Support
Here you'll find information about:
1. Which disc should I select?
2. If you have problems burning some discs
3. Return of products
4. Compatibility lists
5. Links to firmware updates
6. I have not received my order
7. Support Inkjet cartridges
You can always contact us if you need additional help or if you have any questions which you can't find an answer to below. You'll also find answers to more questions on our contact page above.
1. Which disc should I select
We always try to have a very wide selection of discs in stock of all different brands to meet most customers wishes. But this makes it at the same time more difficult to select a disc if you dont know exactly what you need or want. In this guide you will first find a description of the different kinds of CD and DVD discs and further down you will find our recommendations for selecting the brand of disc depending on what you will use it for.
Discs are primary divided into two kinds, CD and DVD.
CD
CD discs is used mostly for music but even films and movies can be stored on CDs, but with limited quality. DVD discs is preferred if you are to burn film and movies. Another common usage for CD discs is to store computer files on, just like you do on your hard drive. However, If you are about to store large amount of data (like taking backup of your hard drive) DVD discs are preferred because they can store significantly more data (about 6 times more than a CD).
CD-R and CD-RW
CD discs are primary divided into two different kinds, CD-R and CD-RW. R stands for Read and RW for Read Write. The difference between the two are that CD-R discs can only be written to once and CD-RW discs can be burned and later erased and then burned again with a different content. Exactly how many times it is possible to re-use a CD-RW disc may vary due to factors such as the quality of the disc, how the disc is handled (if it gets scratched for example) and which burner software is used. It is not unusual to re-use a RW disc more than hundred times if it handled carefully.
To be able to use a CD-RW disc your burner must be manufactured for using RW discs. You can easily check this by having a look at the front panel of your burner where you'll find a CD logotype. If your burner can handle CD-RW disc there are also the text "Rewritable" next to the logotype. Normally all burners that can handle DVD discs can also handle both CD-R and CD-RW discs.
DVD
DVD discs is used mostly for film and movies but it is also common to use them for data storage (if you would like to make backup of digital photographs or your entire hard drive) and music. If want to store large amount of data DVD discs are preferred rather than CD discs because they can store 6-7 times more than a CD disc.
Minus and Plus
DVD discs are primary dived into two kinds, Minus and Plus (normally short as DVD-R and DVD+R). In addition both kinds are available as rewritable
discs (short as DVD-RW and DVD+RW). The most important thing is to select the right kind, Minus or Plus. Which to choose depends on your DVD burner. Older burners can often handle only one kind, either Minus or Plus, but almost all new burners (manufactured after 2004) can handled both formats. If you are not sure which format your burner can handle, consult your manual for the burner or your computer. You can also use a free software called DVDINFOPro which will list all formats that your burner can handle.
R and RW
Now when you know whether to use Minus or Plus, the next step is to decide if you want rewritable discs or not, they are called DVD-RW or DVD+RW. If your burner can handle RW discs the text "Rewritable" are next to the logotype on the front panel of the burner.
Rewritable discs are more expensive than regular DVD discs but it will pay off already after you have reused them a couple of times. If you will use DVD discs for backup of your hard drive, rewritable discs are preferred. On the other hand if you want to burn a film or a movie that you want to save, regular discs are more economic. Exactly how many times it is possible to reburn a DVD RW disc may vary due to factors such as the quality of the disc, how the disc is handled (if it gets scratched for exampled), which burner and burner software is used. It is not unusual to reuse a RW disc more than hundred times if it handled carefully.
The most common discs that most people buy today is DVD+R, which can be seen by that prices on these discs often are lower than compared with DVD-R discs. Sometimes a specific burner can read several different formats but write only a few of them . For example there are burners that can read DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW,DVD-RAM men only burn DVD-R and DVD-RW.
Other kinds of discs
There are several other kinds of DVD discs that are not that common but still is used by a lot of people. Some of those are:
- Dual layer are discs that stores information in more than one layer on the disc which makes it possible to store more information on it, almost twice the size compared to a regular DVD disc. (8,5 GB instead of 4,7 GB). Most DVD burners manufactured after 2005 can handle Dual layer discs (often referred to as D/L) in addition to handling both Minus and Plus discs. This format is also called Double Layer and sometimes DVD-9 and is the format that most commercial movies and films are distributed on today. Dual Layer discs are also very popular to use with Xbox 360.
- Printable or ´Full Face printable´ are discs which makes it possible to make your own professional print on the top of the disc. There are normally no printing information from the manufacturer at all on the disc. To make your own printing you'll need a inkjet printer that can load discs in the same manner as you load paper in a normal printer. Such printers are very cheap today and this is the best way to make your own professional DVD discs. Most printable discs are with matte surface/finish because it is recommended that you use Sprayfix on the disc after printing which besides from protecting the printing also will give a glossy surface/finish.
- DVD-RAM is a competing format to DVD-RW and DVD+RW. This format is used mostly in stand alone burners (such as DVD recorders for television) from Panasonic and Pioneer but also in other burners. It is also available in a double sided format where you can burn on both sides of the discs, thus storing twice the amount of data, totally 9.4 GB.
- Lightscribe discs is used for burning in the same way as regular discs. When the burning is finished, just flip it and the burner itself can make your own print on the top of the disc. This is the most easy way get professionally looking CD or DVD discs. You must have a burner that can handle Lightscribe discs.
- Labelflash is a competing technology to Lightscribe which are a lot less common.
- 8 cm discs are used in many digital cam corders as well as in other electronic home equipment.
Blu-Ray and HD-DVD
In late 2005 the the first burners and discs in the next generation of optical storage arrived. They can store up to 50 GB per disc. These discs initially came in two different types, Blu-ray or HD-DVD (which are not compatible with each other), but after a few years Blu-ray became the dominant standard for there kind of discs.
Blu-ray-discs have (like all new products) initially been very expensive but as sale gradually is in larger volumes prices have decreased.
Almost all CD and DVD discs have a speed marking (short as 2.4x, 4x, 8x, 16x etc.) which tell you the maximum speed you can select when burning your discs. The higher the speed, the shorter time it will take to complete burning of your disc. All burners are manufactured for a maximum speed so there is no need to use discs with a higher speed marking than your burner can handled (even though it works doing so, if for example you are planning to switch to a faster burner later on or the speed with higher markings are cheaper).
DVD and CD discs are normally distributed in two different ways, either with a single hard plastic case around each disc (referred to as jewel case) or on a pile in a cylinder (spindle, cake box or tub). Some discs are sold in a simple plast wrapping. These are often referred to as pack, for example 50-pack. Another new type is cliptray.
So, which discs should I use? The easy answer is the cheapest disc that your burner can use. Be aware though that there might be problems with combinations of a specific burner and a specific brand of disc, se below under the headline "If you have problems burning a disc". More expensive discs of a well know brand usually have better quality/compatibillity, although there are exceptions. Our selection of discs can be sorted and viewed both in order of price per disc and popularity so you can easy see what is most used and works for most users. If you have no special preferences regarding brands of discs or do not know the brand of your burner we recommend the following discs:
Taiyo Yuden - The best discs quality-wise. If you have extreme demands for long durabillity, compatibillity with older DVD writers and readers and wants the same discs as the professionals use.
Verbatim or Mediarange - Higher quality than most other discs and very good compatibillity with many DVD burners and readers. These discs are made with a high quality dye.
Other discs - Here you'll find discs that for most users are just as good as those mentioned above but for a much lower price. Among those discs that we recommend are Datawrite, Datasafe, Ridisc and Gigatain. If you have an older DVD burner (more than 2-3 years) you might first need to update the so called firmware in your DVD burner to be sure that you will have no problems using some brands. You can easily do this yourself without any cost, read more below If you have problems burning some discs. If you gonna use the discs to save a movie or make a backup these discs will do just fine!
Please note that some discs are so called "reprint" which means that the media code may vary from time to time.
If you want more in-depth information, there are a lot more to read about this subject (such as which brands works best with specific burners) on videohelp.com. There you'll also find a lot of useful guides when it comes to burning CD and DVD discs, different software programs, guides etc. You can also use a free software called DVDINFOPro which will list all formats that your burner can handle together with a lot of other useful information.
If you are technical interested you'll find it interesting to know that all DVD discs have a Media code (also referred to as Lead-In info or ADVDInfo). This code is often different on different brands of DVD media but many Media codes is used by several brands. Simplified one can say that the Media code on the disc is used to give the burner instructions how to burn information onto the disc. In other words, it's a kind of compatibility information. If you know that a specific Media code is working fine in your DVD burner other brands with the same Media code will work fine as well.
Many times it is the recognition of different Media codes that changes in different versions of firmware in a DVD burner. This is why an upgrade of firmware many times can solve your problems if your burner can't use a specific brand of discs (see below).
2. If you have problems burning some discs
If you are experiencing problems with burning some discs or some brands of discs please check the following:
1. Check that the burner is supporting the type of CD or DVD disc you are trying to burn
(-R, +R, RW etc.) You can use DVDINFOPro for this.
2. Have you set the maximum burner speed that your burner support?
(Try to burn at the slowest available speed if problems remains).
3. Do other discs of the same brand work? If possible, please try other brands or discs or discs
with another Media Code. If you can test same discs in another burner that will
also help pinpointing the problem.
Please bear in mind that despite checking the above items you can still have problems with one particular brand or type of disc on a particular burner (although it is not that common). The solution is then to update the firmware in your burner. This is a software that is in a circuit inside your actual burner. It is not the software that you use for burning discs. Check that you have the latest firmware version for your model of burner.
Normally, you can see which version of firmware you have by entering the Control Panel and select System, Hardware and Device Manager. Find your burner in the list and right click and select Properties. Depending of your model and make you'll find information about the firmware in some the tabs now shown. Do not confuse the firmware with the tab named Driver (although updating the driver sometimes might solve the problem as well). An easier way is to use the free software DVDINFOPro.
When you have the information about your firmware version, go to the support webpage for the manufacturer or google for [your burner model name] and the word "firmware" to find information about the latest version of firmware available for your burner. Links to some web pages for firmware updates are further down on this page. You can also get more information in some of the guides listed below.
Another convenient way is to download the free software DVDINFOPro which will tell you the firmware version of your burner, which kind of discs it can handle as well as much other technical information.
A similar software for Macintosh is DVD Media Inspector.
3. Return of products
If you want to return products for any reason, you must first contact us to receive instructions for your return. When you contact us, please include at least the following information:
1. Order number
2. What item and how many you want to return
3. The reason for your return.
4. If you have any problems using the discs for burning, please also include your model and
make of burner as well as the firmware version.
See above for instructions on how to obtain the firmware version.
When we have received your request for return, we will contact you and give you a RMA-number and the address to use for your return. Please don't forget to attach a copy of your packing slip in the package (which was attached in your consignment).
We can't accept return of products that don't have a RMA-number.
4. Compatibility lists
Below you'll find lists of discs and burners that are tested with each other and are known to work fine.
Which burners are my discs tested with?
Mediarange Dual Layer Compatibility list for Dual Layer discs from Mediarange
Mediarange Blu-ray Compatibility list for Blu-ray discs from Mediarange
Mediarange Other Compatibility list for other discs from Mediarange
Ritek DVD-R and DVD-RW Compatibility list for DVD-R and DVD-RW discs from Ritek
Ritek DVD+R and DVD+RW Compatibility list for DVD+R and DVD+RW discs from Ritek
Ritek DVD+R Dual Layer Compatibility list for DVD+R Dual Layer discs from Ritek
Ritek Blu-ray BD-R Compatibility list for BD-R discs from Ritek
Ritek Blu-ray BD-RE Compatibility list for BD-RE discs from Ritek
More and updated compatibillity lists for Ritek discs (like for video cameras that uses DVD discs and for stand alone DVD recorders for TV) are available on Ritek product pages.
Which discs are my burner tested with?
Sony/NEC Compatibility list for Sony/NEC burners
NEC Compatibility list for NEC burners
Pioneer Compatibillity list for Pioneer burners
Other lists
Overburn instructions Instructions for how to burn CD-R 90 Min-800 MB and 100 Min-900 MB discs.
5. Firmware updates
Below you'll find links to the most common brands of burners. There are all different kinds of firmware updates available. Note that the list neither is complete or might not reflect the official support webpage for the manufacturer. The DVD Market takes no responsibility for any problems that might occur when updating firmware.
Asus
BTC
HP
Iomega
LG
Liteon
NEC
Memorex
Pioneer 1
Pioneer 2
Pioneer 3
Plextor 1
Plextor 2
Sony
Sony/NEC (Optiarc)
Samsung 1
Samsung 2
Teac 1
Teac 2
The firmware page - Firmware for many various burners
The firmware page - Help and general information about firmware
6. I have not received my order
After we have sent your consignment we always send an e-mail to the address you used when you registered. In this e-mial you'll find a tracking link to use when monitoring your consignment on the way to you (normally it will take 1-2 working days from that we send your order until you receive it). In the same mail you'll also find your receipt.
If you want to change or check your e-mail address you can do this on the page "My Account" and select "Customer Information". If you have the correct e-mail address but still has not received our e-mail with the tracking link please check your spam filter so the mail is not stucked there.
7. Support Inkjet cartridges
If you have problems with compatible non-original cartidges, please note that in most cases it is not possible to mix original cartridges with compatible non-original cartridges. Make sure that you switch all cartridges in your printer and use only cartridges from the same supplier/manufacturer. Then restart your printer.
If you still have problems using any of our Epson cartridges, try and reset your printer using this software.
